Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1887-12-13
A LONG SIEGE.
THE COMBINATION ORDINANCE
SQUEEZED THROUGH AMID
"WILD EXCITEMENT"
The Feature of the Session Draws
Out Hours of Debate--"Will His
Honor Make it a Law"

City Council met last night at council
with his honor and all council
men except johnson present. The lobby
was quite we'll filled with motor line agi-
tators. Some new faces were to be seen,
which suggested that something beyond
routine business and motor line matters
would be introduced.
KENYON, of finance committee,
favored the city council opening cores
pondence with congress to learn how to
get surplus in the treasury. Total in
debtedness as read was 81, 900, and when
the report had been read, the mayor, in
few remarks, impressed on the council the
ACCESSIBILITY of not going in debt just be
cause it could. The amount in the treas
ury reported was $1,000.
Mr.. Haly-One year ago our
light bills amounted to but
a few hundred dollars. Our
light bill now is over 81 500 a year. The
worst part of it is that we have sometimes
two lights ON one corner Our lights is
not distributed properly.
Mr.. Healy, on public improvements,
stated that Blackwelder & Rouse desired
to lay twelve foot sidewalk on the south
side of the Sedgwick. 1t was also recon-
mended that the sidewalk on the north
side of First street between Main and
Market streets be made twelve feet wide
The recommendation was adopted.
Mr. Harris, of the judiciary committee,
submitted an ordinance declaring what to
be considered offenses and punish
ment for the same. 1t was a long ordin-
ance and was codification of offenses and
oh nd 1Ii crbf OIL
of the additions referred in unsavory terms
of gambling games and houses of ill-fame
and the owners and keepers of the same.
1t did not prove popular communication
and upon motion of Healy and second of
Brown, was referred to the health com
mittee." The vote carried amid a horse
laugh with two votes in the negative.
The twelve-foot sidewalk was extended
on First from Market to Topeka avenue.
A petition was submitted asking that the
Rock Island company be compelled to
grade Mead avenue north of Central ave
nue.. it was stated that the company is
now at work improving the avenue.
Mr. English thought that streets used
by railroads should be kept TO grade, as the
road itself was enough inconvenience to
the people living along the roads, and the
street left should be kept in good con
dition
The street commissioner was instructed
to see that all streets in the city occupied
by railroads, be put on a good grade
Mr.. Healy, of the railroad committee,
again introduced the ordinance, comhin-
ing the ordinances of the old street car
company, the Garfield Motor line, and the
West Douglas Avenue Motor Line com
pany.
On motion of Healy the ordinance was
placed on its passage, with Buckridge
voting in the negative.
While the clerk was reading the ord;n-
ance painful silence prevailed. All eyes
were turned toward the council, and it
seemed that the spectators expected Il fight
was on hand which would be of interest.
Something had been promised to break
loose and some seemed to hope that it
would.
The ordinance provides that when the
gross receipts of the company amount to
over 100000, the company will give the
city per cent. of the earnings.
When the ordinance had been read, Mr..
Buckridge moved TO reconsider the motion
carried but the effort failed to receive a
second and the work of considering sec
tons commenced.
When the first section had been read Mr..
Buckeridge said he thought there was d
great big Niger in the wood pile. We
don't know that the old company own the
property referred to. They ask this for
nineteen years, which is big thing. They
ask to build a cable line; don't say they
are going to do it now but want two years
to do it in. They want to operate a cable
line on any street but are not liable for
any damage i'll operating the line They
show more cheek than their mules have.
They propose to give us that beautiful IT,
rail Theywant to put in the fat rail
some time Their line has not cost them
over $4,000 and they want to borrow 500.
coo on this franchise, which means that
the franchise will be worth 100000. Here
is a beautiful thing. The city of Wichita
has TO give this corporation a
notice of six months before any other
company can get the street. Oh, they are
very nice gentlemen indeed. Nice corpora
ton. They go outside OF the old city limits
except streets to make it certain that they
have the right TO hold all other streets.
They think they own the city and they
would if they should get this franchise. 4
gentleman connected with this company
said corporations were not expected to live
up TO agreements. | know this company
don't live up 10 its contract. Have these
fellows not an offer of six or seven hundred
thousand dollars if this would pass.
Dickson wish you would give it to me-
Is it not a fact that this is the mother of
deception ali the way through. This COM
pany pays taxes for $4,000, a small valua-
ton Any drayman gives more to the city
than this corporation. They should be
taxed S2l car They have tracks on
Central avenue and south Market street to
keep other companies out, but not TO
operate them.
Have they done anything for keeping up
streets? Why do they object to all amend
ments for the city's benefit. He closed by
submitting an ordinance which he in
sisted on being read. The ordinance was
read
When the names were being calld Mr.
Buckridge stated that Mr.. English. being
a stakeholder in the company, should not
be allowed TO vote The mayor refused to
interfere stating that there was remedy
if il should be wrong. The vote showed
Harris, Buckridge, Kenyon and Johnson
in the negative, leaving six votes in the
affirmative, enough to carry the section.
Buckridge moved as an amendment 10 a
section that the company pay fine Of ten
dollars day, after thirty days notice, TO
pave or macadsmize between the rails,
The vote stood four for Kenyon voting
in the negative and johnson In the affirm
alive. making an even swap.
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